Remote grinding head

ABSTRACT

There is provided a apparatus for the automatic compensation for deterioration or reduction in diameter of a cutting tool, such as a grinding wheel, whereby machining may be resumed, without further adjustment after such compensation. The invention is particularly suitable for remote operation under hazardous conditions such as might be experienced in highly radioactive environments.

lJnited States Patent Inventor Cyril J. Astill Deep River, Ontario, Canada 760,213

Sept. 17, 1968 Aug. 10, 1971 Atomic Energy of Canada Limited Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Appl. No. Filed Patented Assignee REMOTE GRINDING HEAD 5 Claims, 27 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 5l/l65.87 Int. Cl B24b 49/00 Field ofSearch 51/165.l4, 165.15

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,865,067 6/1932 Warsow 5l/l65 UX 2,545,730 3/1951 Fouquet 5l/l65 X 2,576,239 ll/l95l Reimschissel et al. 51/165 X 2,944,373 7/1960 Mentley et al. 51/165 X Primary Examiner-Lester M. Swingle Att0rneyCushman, Darby & Cushman ABSTRACT: There is provided a apparatus for the automatic compensation for deterioration or reduction in diameter of a cutting tool, such as a grinding wheel, whereby machining may be resumed, without further adjustment after such compensation. The invention is particularly suitable for remote operation under hazardous conditions such as might be experienced in highly radioactive environments.

Patented Aug. 10, 1971 22 Sheets-Sheet 1 BOILER SECTION BORESCOPE CA lTY DECK PLATE ELEVATION -UPPER HEADER SEAL ACCESS PORT A UNNERSAL CARRIAGE FOR REMOTE TOOL HEAD CHANGING ABLE HATCH COVER REMOTE D ECONNECT OF MAIN EM cARRlAlc E (PIT FLOOR FIGI CARRlAGE AND TOOL IN POSITION FOR PICK-UP THROUGH CENTRE OF REACTOR Patented Aug. 10, 1971 3,597,933

22 Sheets-Sheet 8 474- 472 Q I I235 470 50' 462 -48O Patented Aug 10, 1971 3,597,933

22 Sheets-Sheet 5 HYDRAULIC AND AIR GAUGES HYDRAULIC PUMPS I m @i Q BORESCOPE 47 AccEssoRY DRIvE GEARBOX CONTROL LINES MAIN DRIVE GEARBOX PR'OPILOMETER CONTROL CONSOL ggg iffi DRAUUC JACKS N STEM uPPER SECTION REMOTE CONNECTION -MAIN sTEM ARM N 5 AIR AND cAM OPERATED N RALIZING L ER ROCKING ROLLER LOCATION ARM AUXILIARY DRIvE UNITS ARM No. 2 AIR AND CAM OPERATED ARM No, I BORESCOPE HYDRAULIC INDEXINC HEAD OPERATED FIGSA Patented Aug. 10, 1971 3,597,933

22 Sheets-Sheet 4 AIR TO HONING AND BRUSH APPLICATION SLIDES AIR TO AUXILIARY DRIVE MOTORS DRIVE SHAFT 4 HYDRAULIC LINES WATER LINE THRO LOCKING PLUG AIR TO GRINDING 8- HONING MOTORS Patented "Aug. 10, 1971 3,597,933

22 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Aug. 10,1971 3,597,933

22 Sheets-Sheet 6 Patented Aug. 10, 1971 7 3,597,933

22 Sheets-Sheet 7 Patented Aug. 10, 1971 3,597,933

22 Sheets-Sheet 8 230 LEI FIG.4D m

Patented Aug. '10, 1971 7 3,597,933

22 Sheets-Sheet 9 Patented Aug. 10, 1971 22 Sheets-Sheet 10 Patented Aug. 10, 1971 3,597,933

22 Sheets-Sheet 11 Patented Aug. 10, 1971 3,597,933

22 Sheets-Sheet '1:

22 Sheets-Sheet 15 FIG.8

Patented Aug. 10, 1971 v 3,597,933

22 Sheets-Sheet 14 Pa tented Aug. 0, 1971 22 sheets-sheet 15 FII IIIEIIIL 'FIGIO Patented Aug. 10; 1971 22 Sheets-Sheet 10 FIG! I Patented Aug. 10, 1971 22 Sheets-Sheet 17 Patented Aug. 10, 1971 3,597,933

22 Sheets-Sheet 18 Patented Aug. 10, 1971 v 3,597,933

22 Sheets-Sheet 19 

1. A toolhead for a machine tool having means defining a cylindrical cutting surface, said head having integral redressing means for precisely compensating for wear on the cylindrical cutting surface of the tool, said head comprising: a. shaft and bearing means providing an axis about which said tool may rotate, b. slide means supporting said bearing, said slide means including freely rotatable pinion thereon, c. a dressing device, d. slidable support means for said dressing device whereby the dressing device is engageable with the cylindrical cutting surface of said tool and whereby the dressing device is constrained to move along an axis which is parallel to and in the same plane as the said shaft, e. first rack means rigidly attached to said support means for said dressing device, said first rack means meshing with said pinion, f. second rack means rigidly attached to said tool head said second rack means meshing with said pinion, and, g. means for moving the axis of the said shaft by a determined distance X, the movement occurring in the said plane whereby the said pinion rolls on said second rack and whereby the said first rack and said dressing device move, by an accurately determined distance 2X, the dressing device moving toward the said tool.
 2. A toolhead as defined in claim 1, wherein said means slidably supporting said dressing device is a shaft upon which the dressing device is mounted, a portion of said shaft being threaded for engagement with an internally threaded member which is constrained against movement along the axis of its thread and supported for rotation, said shaft incorporating means inhibiting rotation about the axis of the shaft.
 3. A toolhead as defined in claim 1 further including means for selectively moving the head bodily away from its machining position prior to tool redressing and to returning and to accurately repositioning the head in its original position after a redressing operation.
 4. A toolhead as defined in claim 8 wherein the said means for selectively moving the head comprises an inclined plane and a follower resting on the inclined plane, the latter and the follower being movable with respect to each other, the movement being provided by a linear actuator.
 5. A toolhead as defined in claim 2 wherein said internally threaded member is mechanically coupled to a prime mover. 